Phlox plant named ‘PHL091601’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phlox  plant named ‘PHL091601’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant form; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and short internodes; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; very light violet blue to almost white-colored flowers; long flowering period; and relatively resistant to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Phlox hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PHL091601’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Phlox plant,botanically known as Phlox hybrida and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘PHL091601’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous and mounding Phlox plantswith early flowering habit and long flowering period.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on May 30, 2007 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietaryselection of Phlox hybrida identified as code number 07FL-11, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection ofPhlox stolonifera, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newPhlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan on Sep. 10, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since Sep.16, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox plant have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PHL091601’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PHL091601’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant form.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit and short internodes; dense and bushy        plant form.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Very light violet blue to almost white-colored flowers.    -   6. Long flowering period.    -   7. Relatively resistant to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are more vigorous and grow faster        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have blush pink-colored flowers.    -   4. Plants of the new Phlox flower for a longer period of time        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the male parent selectionin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller leaves than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox flower for a longer period of time        than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the Phlox hybrida‘USPLX50302’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,645. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘USPLX50302’ differed in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox produced more pollen than plants of        ‘USPLX50302’.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox were more cold-tolerant than plants        of ‘USPLX50302’.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the Phloxsubulata×Phlox stolonifera ‘PPPHL07201’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 23,705. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and‘PPPHL07201’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox flowered earlier than plants of        ‘PPPHL07201’.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox and PPPHL07201′ differed in flower        color as plants of PPPHL07201′ had darker violet blue-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of typical flowering plants of ‘PHL091601’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘PHL091601’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in 25-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under cultural practicestypical of Phlox production. Four plants were planted in a container andthe description was taken on single plants. During the production of theplants, day temperature ranged from 16° C. to 27° C., night temperaturesranging from 7° C. to 14° C. and light levels ranging from 5,000 to8,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were five monthsold when the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox hybrida ‘PHL091601’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox            hybrida identified as code number 07FL-11, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Phlox            stolonifera, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four weeks at            temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Root description.—Thin to medium in thickness; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely            branching habit, about eight to ten primary laterals each            with numerous secondary laterals; relatively short            internodes; dense and bushy plant form.        -   Plant height.—About 26 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 18 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color, developing: Close to 146B. Color, fully            developed: Close to 148A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 mm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded; clasping.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146A; venation, close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Single rotate and            salverform flowers arranged in small terminal and axillary            cymes, each cyme with five to seven flowers; flowers face            upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with more than            400 flowers developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet floral.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about four            to six weeks after planting; long flowering period with            plants continuously flowering from spring to autumn in            California.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four to five            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 92D.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.5 cm to 6 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, at base.—About 3 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Typically five            in a single whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow            tube. Lobe length: About 1.4 cm. Lobe width: About 1 cm.            Shape: Obovate. Apex: Erose. Margin: Entire. Texture: Petal            lobes, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Petal lobes, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Throat: Smooth, glabrous.            Tube: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petal lobes, upper            surface: Close to 92D. Developing petal lobes, lower            surface: Close to 91D. Fully expanded petal lobes, upper            surface: Close to 92C to 92D; towards the throat, close to            92B; venation, close to 92C. Fully expanded petal lobes,            lower surface: Close to 92C; venation, close to 92C. Flower            throat: Close to 92D blushed with red purple; venation,            close to 92D. Flower tube: Close to 91D; venation, close to            91D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Typically five            in a single whorl, fused towards the base into a slender            tube and reflexed towards the apex. Length: About 1 cm.            Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:            Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Close to 146C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.            Angle: About 30° to 45° from peduncle axis. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B to 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to            92D. Anther shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Anther length: About            2 mm. Anther color: Close to 153D. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 163B. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Tri-parted.            Stigma color: Close to 145B. Style length: About 6 mm. Style            color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 144B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Phlox.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been noted    to be relatively resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new    Phlox have not been noted to be resistant to pests and other    pathogens common to Phlox plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain and wind and to be    hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 5.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘PHL091601’ asillustrated and described.